New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-11
A BOMB FOR PATTI.
PLAN TO MURDER HER AND JOHN c. FLOOD.
TIE DYNAMIrER MANGLrNG ONLY HIMsELF-DAs-
TARDLY CRIME ATTEMPTED IN A SAN FRANCISCO
THEATRE.

TIE DYNAMirrR MANGLrNG ONLY HrMsELF-DAs-
TARDLY CRIME ATTEMPTED IN A SAN FRANCISCO
THEATRE
lBf TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
San FRANCISCO, Feb. 1O.-The attempt Of . crank
to htrow bomb in the Grand Opera House last
night during the performance of the Patti Company has
created the greatest excitement and called out demand
that the Dill now pending in the Legislature fixing
heavy penalty for the manufacture sale of dangerous
explosives without license should speedily become law.
All fuller details OF the atrocios attempt show that
was the family Of James L. Flood the bonanza million
aire that the man meant to blow up, we'll Madame
Patti This Is pretty clearly proved by the remark he
mace TO person sitting beside him. "Pve been watch
Ing those Floods they've got lots Of money but they're
no good He had also selected seat in the gallery, di
recty opposite the proscenumbox in which Million
aire Flood and his family were seated From his
vantage ground he could easily have tossed his deadly
missile into the box had It not exploded in his hands.
Everything favored his project the house had been
noisy and restless during the whole evening The mana
ger sold many tickets than the house would hold.
These people scrambled into the gallery and squated In
the reserved seats When the Of these seats
rived they could not the places they had paid for
Down In the body OF the house the asles also
packed. When Gaass and scalchi singing they
were hssed. and Ar was forced to lay down his baton
TO await the queng OF the tumu After Patti appeared
the clamor subsded, and nothing occurred until twenty
minutes past TO- when just as she had
finished encore aria from "Travata,"
loud report was heard from the gallery followcdby
thick smoke Bits OF burning cotton dropped from the
gallery and this with the Of several women In
the gallery, came dangerously near causing great
panic. This was saved, however by the exertlons OF
some cooheaded people who started the applause and
brought Patti agad before the ootghs and by tho fact
that three quarters OF the audience couldn't the gal
ery and didn't know what had happened.
Immediately after the eXnlOslOn old man with blood
streaming from his face and with singed hair and beard
rushed mp through the gallery and tried to escape He
was coared by policeman and taken
to the station, where 1t was discovered
that he James Hodges a
magnetic healer and native England seventy years
old lie claimed that he found the Internal machine
under his and In lifting II up burstci and exploded
This disproved by the testimony OF those who sat
next TO him. Miss Dreyfss who occupied the next seat
and whose arm was injured sid that the who threw
the bomb had been making strange remarks all the even
Ing.
During the time that Patti on the stage" said
she. heard him say Patti Is singing well tonight
but she will sing no more Then, later he pointed at
Mr. Floods box. and growled in low tone OF voice :
There's Flood and his wife over In tho
box; she has got lots OF money
but shc amt bit pretty. Flood
ruined but I'll get even. After making this remark
he cooy took match from his pocket and lighted It on
tended to smoke. but horrIhcd when saw him put
his hand under his coat, take queer looking pack
age like bottle wrapped in cloth. and
touch a match 10 end OF IT, think lie intended to
throw the thing the just as Patti concluded her
song IL exploded almost Immediately and In an In
slant his face and hands bleeding and his clothes
smoking In many places. His whiskers were also
scorched aud he had to rub them rapidly
| 10 extlngulsh the fire. He groaned as though
he had been badly hurt and at and stumbled
out OF the theatre"
The police have secured statements from three other
eye witnesses the crime all showing that Hodges pre-
| rncd.tatsd the attempt and that It his
own awkwardness that prevented q dangerous
or fatal result Tho escape OF tho audience from
manic was miraculous Had "a rush occurred scores
would have been trampled 20 death Nine. Patu sang
"Home Home" quiethe house and showed great
nerve the simple fact was that shc didn't know al the
time there was any danger Tho bombthrower was
pretty badly hurt and it stated night that the shock
and reaction from excitement may prove fatal
His nose WAS split open his hand severely injured and
his face much scorched as 10 require "a
covering OF soft cotton and ointment from top OF tho
forehead his lips when his wounds were being dressed
he nearly tainted. but revived By
the administration OF stmulants In one OF his
| pockets was found n flask containing a liquid
composed OF turpentne and rosn which It s supposed
he intended 10 use TO fire the building after the bomb had
been Exploded
In IIodgess rooms were found bottles containing tur
penne and chemicals and much socialstic literature.
From various circulars 1t Is evident that Hodges
Ia either member OF secret organizations which
advocate the use OF dynamite or Is In sympathy
with them. one circular found "The international
Workers Ten Commandments, Platform or Bylaws
The sheet in highly naammablc language declares mat
"Thc sublime arts and sciences give four hours
labor with $40 "A day pay. Under "Ihe Platform Is
printed long dissertation headed Free Thought IL
ia signed "Rcv Dr. James Hodges" Among other
Things, Hodges in this pamphlet says
per OF human family become milionares 20
per middle men, 10 per cent JostnB esch o'ue
| ior the few crumbs that fau ifom he
rich mans table.
| FATAL FLAMES IN ST LOUIS